African violet named Arctic Frost

ABSTRACT

A new variety of African violets that have been bred from a hybrid formed by crossing Saintpaulia ionantha, the traditional florists&#39; African violet with the high altitude species, Saintpaulia schumensis. The high cost of energy in northern latitudes and the relatively high temperatures required by Saintpaulia ionantha, which grows naturally at the foot of Mount Usamabara in East Africa, have made commercial growing of the violet expensive. By bringing in genes from Saintpaulia schumensis which grows at some 7,000 feet on the same mountain, where temperatures can fall as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit, a new avenue of growth is opened up for this popular plant.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

To obtain this new variety of African violet plant, the inventorcross-pollenated the seed parent S. `Ballet Martha` and the pollenparent S. schumensis×S. `Optimara Georgia`. The seed pods of thepollenated plants were used as the generic basis for initiating furtherexperimental series. Approximately 25 seedlings were selected by veryrigid standards for further propagation. Propagation of these plants andrefinement out of limited selected plants continued and tests wereconducted for the development of permanent characteristics of diseaseresistance and vigorous growth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Sheet one is a full color photographic view of the plant in bloom; thecolors shown being as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to obtainby conventional photographic procedures.

The following is a detailed description of my new African violet plantwith the color designation being accorded to the R.H.S. Colour Chartpublished by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England, withcollaboration by the British Colour Council.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Plant:

Name.--Arctic Frost.

Botanical classification.--Saintpaulia ionantha.

Commercial classification.--African violet.

Origin.--Hybrid.

Seed parent.--S. `Ballet Martha`.

Pollen parent.--S. schumensis×S. `Optimara Georgia`.

Form.--Rosette arrangement.

Height.--6-10 cm.

Growth.--Moderate, petioles at first upright, becoming horizontal withage.

Size.--Medium, to 20 cm in diameter.

Mutation prone.--Slight. Some variation occurs in the amount of bluepigmentation in the petals.

Leaves:

Shape.--Ovate, margins crenate.

Length.--5-6 cm on mature leaves.

Width.--C. 5 cm on mature leaves.

Color.--Upperside: Medium green. Underside: Pale green.

Texture.--Upperside: Moderately hairy. Underside: Hairy.

Ribs and veins.--Pronounced, pinnate, greenish below.

Petiole.--Flattened above, moderately hairy, green.

Flowers:

Blooming habit.--Continuous and abundant under optimal growingconditions.

Number.--3-10 per peduncle.

Size.--4-5 cm in diameter.

Color.--Central parts White (RHS 155C). Edges of petals Violet-Blue (RHS89B).

Type.--Single, violet-like.

Petals.--5. Margins ruffled.

Texture.--Smooth, slightly flexible.

Appearance.--Upperside smooth, lower side slightly pubescent.

Peduncles.--5-6 cm in height, moderately hairy, reddish green.

Inflorescence.--Cyme, upright, generally above the foliage.

Calyx.--Quinquepartite, green, moderately hairy.

Persistence.--Flowers do not drop.

Fragrance.--None.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--2-4, one or more sometimes fused to petaloids. Anthers: Brightyellow, one or two per filament. Filaments: c. 0.5 cm in length. Pollen:Light yellow.

Pistils.--One. Stigma: Visible and accessible, becoming swollen whenreceptive and exuding a droplet of clear liquid. Style: c. 0.5 cm inlength. Ovary: Superior.

Other characteristics: This variety will grow at lower temperatures thanmost commercially available hybrids because of its Saintpauliaschumensis parentage.

I claim:
 1. An African violet plant as shown and described.